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News · head to head

Ground News vs Medium

Ground News logo

Ground News

News

See every side of every story

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Medium logo

Medium

News

The best place to read and write stories on the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ground News only one paid tier (Vantage) is publicly offered; Medium unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
  • They diverge on capability: Ground News covers News comparison, Medium covers Story publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ground News and Medium actually diverge.

Attributes where Ground News and Medium differ
AttributeGround NewsMedium
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, Mobile
Founded20182012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ground News

  • News comparison
  • Bias ratings
  • Source transparency
  • Blindspot analysis
  • Ownership data
  • Browser extension
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Only in Medium

  • Story publishing
  • Member program
  • Earning potential
  • Reading time estimates
  • Clap reactions
  • Highlighting & annotations
  • Story recommendations
  • Following system

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ground News

  • News consumptionnot Medium
  • Media literacynot Medium
  • Researchnot Medium
  • Fact checkingnot Medium

Medium

  • Publishing articles without running your own blognot Ground News
  • Reading long-form writing across technology, culture and newsnot Ground News
  • Earning from writing through the Medium Partner Programnot Ground News

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ground News

  • Only one paid tier (Vantage) is publicly offered
  • Annual billing required for the disclosed $8.33/month rate
  • Pricing for monthly billing not disclosed

Medium

  • Unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
  • Audio versions of stories are a member-only feature
  • Earning money from writing requires joining the Medium Partner Program rather than being automatic
  • The iOS app requires iOS 17.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

Ground News

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic news comparison
    • Bias ratings
    • Limited stories
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Unlimited stories
    • Blindspot feed
    • Ownership data
  • Vanguard$19.99/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Support journalism
    • Early features

Medium

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited reading
    • Publishing platform
    • Story drafts
  • Medium Membership$5/month
    • Unlimited access
    • Exclusive stories
    • Member earnings

Which should you pick?

Choose Ground News if

  • You need news comparison.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want bias ratings.
Ground News review

Choose Medium if

  • You need story publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want member program.
Medium review

Questions people ask

Is Ground News or Medium better?
Neither clearly leads. Ground News starts at Free and Medium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ground News or Medium?
Ground News starts at Free and Medium at Free.
Does Ground News or Medium run on more platforms?
Ground News runs on Ios, Android, Web. Medium runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Ground News for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ground News best used for?
Ground News is most often used for news consumption, media literacy, research, fact checking. Of those, news consumption and media literacy are not what Medium is typically brought in for.
What can Ground News do that Medium cannot?
Ground News covers News comparison, Bias ratings, Source transparency, Blindspot analysis. Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ground News: Does Ground News have a free option?

Yes. Ground News offers free access through its website, browser extension, or mobile app. The free tier shows news stories and basic information.

Source
Ground News: How much does Ground News Vantage cost?

Ground News Vantage is $8.33/month when billed annually, with no hidden fees. Users can cancel anytime.

Source
Ground News: What features does Ground News Vantage include?

Ground News Vantage includes blindspot analysis, global coverage maps, unlimited saved stories, full coverage comparison, ownership and funding transparency, bias and factuality ratings, and the My News Bias dashboard.

Source
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